Wealth of Nations Reporting on Illicit Finance 2017 in Africa

Wealth of Nations is looking for journalists based anywhere in Africa who are motivated to understand how their country could be losing money via illicit means.

Wealth of Nations is a long-term engagement, and journalists who take part must commit to all elements of the scheme, signing an agreement to this effect. These elements include:

The production of stories or investigations on illicit financial flows

A mentoring support scheme that will help produce these stories

Intensive training on reporting illicit finance (the first workshops will take place in late November/early December 2017)

Benefits

If selected, you will take part in one intensive workshop (5 days) covering illicit finance, reporting on companies, accounts and budgets, and investigative techniques. Workshops will take place in Kampala or Dakar (TBC).

You will propose one or more story ideas that you wish to work on within the scheme – we will provide experienced journalists to help you pursue your stories right up to publication/broadcast

Selected participants will receive modest funding to help them realize their stories or investigations; those who are funded may have further opportunities for training

You will have exclusive access to expertise through our network of illicit finance experts

You will also have access to story ideas and editorial advice and will be invited to share your own expertise with participants from other regions

Eligibilities

Journalists with at least two years of professional experience

It is an advantage if you are familiar with investigative journalism, reporting on finances and/or dealing with numbers more generally. But if you have a strong motivation to learn about and understand these issues then we will consider your application

You must be able to spend significant time working on illicit finance stories or investigations

Both freelancers and staff journalists may apply. Journalists working for a news organization will need consent from their editor to take part. Freelancers should provide evidence that one or more media organizations will be willing to take their work.

Journalists working in any medium or multiple media are welcome to apply (print, online, radio or television)

Journalists should be based in Africa and be working for one or more African media organizations

Journalists applying in 2017 must have fluent English or French. For Arabic-speaking journalists, there will be an opportunity to apply in 2018.